On Tuesday, the voters of Hatfield have a historic decision to make. It’s not about the various offices on the ballot — many of which are unopposed — but it is about Question 1. The question reads: “Shall the Town vote to have its elected town treasurer and town collector become an appointed town treasurer/collector of the Town of Hatfield?”
For nearly 350 years, since the formation of Hatfield, these two positions were elected by the voters. The founders of our town believed that was appropriate. They were separate offices and many residents have served honorably in these roles. But now, after failing in so many ways with the financial management of the town, the Select Board wants the power to (1) combine these two very different offices, and (2) appoint somebody for this high-paying position.
The town is on the verge of Department of Revenue oversight of our finances, yet not one word was mentioned of that crisis at the Town Meeting on May 8. In fact, the chair of the Finance Committee squelched a lively discussion of this proposed change to our town government.
These boards do not want the pure unscripted democracy of Town Meeting or elected offices and dissent getting in their way. They just want to appoint loyal staff, regardless of qualifications, without the challenges of working with other elected officials.
Perhaps we could just abolish elected officials and Town Meeting completely, and grant lifetime power to a supreme leader. It would solve the issue of those unsightly political signs that the town clerk attempted to ban from public spaces. Fortunately, that article failed miserably, and many of us hope that this attempt to take away our democratic vote for two important offices will likewise fail.
Please vote “no” on Question 1 on Tuesday.
E. Lary Grossman
Hatfield